Reel drive mechanism for motionpicture film reels



Aug. 19, 1952 A; M NABB 2,

REEL DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOTION-PICTURE FILM REELS Filed April 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet- .1

36 Pie. 2%

IN VEN TOR.

ou:s A. CNA B L. A. M NABB Aug. 19, 1952 REEL DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOTION-PICTURE FILM REELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1947 INVENTOR. LOUIS A. MCNABB BY ATTY.

Aug. 19, 1952 2,607,545

REEL DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOTION-PICTURE FILM REELS Filed April 15, 1947 L. A. McN

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fis. 5

IWHI INVHV TOR. gouls A. Mo NABB ATTY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 REELDRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOTION- PICTURE FILM REELS Louis A. McNabb, Glenview, 111., assignor to Bell 8 Howell Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April --15, 1947, Serial No. 741,485

7 8 Claims.

My invention-relates particularly toitake up or rewinding reel drives for motion picture project ing machines, although not limited to'this use alone. A v i.

It is usual to drive the take up reel of a'mo' tion picture projectingmachine by .means of a constant torque yielding drive mechanism. per.- mitting the slowing up of rotation of the reel to accommodate the increasing diameter oi thefilm roll on the reel to the constant rate of'feed of the film by the filmfeedingmech'anism of the machine. Such drive devicesf are limited-in such accommodation in that, if their torque'is in-'- creased to accommodate greater ranges of take up film roll to diameters, .undesirably.-.excessive strain is exertedon the'filmzat' gsmall take up film roll diameters. l l- The main object of the present :inventionresides in the provisionhof a noveLflcomp'act and effectiveyielding drive mechanism which auto matically increases the torque exerted on, the take up reel as the diameter of thefilm roll there-, on increases to the end of increasingthe range of film roll diameter which may be accommodated without exerting excessive strain on the film, which is also'adapted' and may be desirably employed for rewinding film from one reel to'another at high speed, and which when drivenby a belt and pulley transmis'siondoes vnot'.:plac'e excessive strain on the driving belt; Other objectsof the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawingforming a part hereof and in which Figure 1 is an end eleivationxof a reel drive mechanism embodying my invention and showing it in a form adapted for serving as the .drive'of a take up reel of a motion picture'iprojectingfmachine; a

Figure 2 is a sectional view ofthe" samei taken on an axial plane of the same; t

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 Figure 4 is a sectional view substantially on the line 44 of'Figure2i' 1 a 1 Figure 5 is' aside elevational -view*oi a reel drive mechanism embodying myinventionwith parts thereof broken away anagshown in partial section and showing it m snomer-"form adapted forserving asjthe driv'e' of a feed-and rewind-reel of a motion picture projecting machine; and

Figure 6 is a partialfronteIeVa'tiOnaL view of the mechanism of a motion picture projecting machine with parts broken away and shewn'in section and showing drivmsmeehanism or my invention which serves to drive the reel drive mechanism of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, a generally cylindrical housing I is carried on the extending end of a support or reel arm 2. The housing, see particularly Figure 2, is provided with valined bores, respectively designated at 3 and :1, through opposite end walls thereof, and comprises two parts 5 and 6 detachably secured together transversely of the bores 3 and 4, for the purpose of as-, sembly, by a usual screwthread and shoulder connection l disposed at the cylindrical wall of the housing in concentric relation with the bores 3 and 4, the housing part 5 being formed integrally with the support arm 2.

A rotatable. driving member 8 and a rotatable reel spindle 9 are disposed along the axis of the driving mechanism, which is the axis of the bores 3 and 4 of the housing parts 5 and 5, and respectively extend in these bores, and the driving member 8 is disposed within the housing and is rotatably mounted in an inner reduced portion H of the bore :3 by'means era rollerhearing [2. A concentrically bored rotatable reaction mom her [3 is disposed within the'housing onthe axis of the bores 3 and 4 and ismounte'd'for'rotation on a friction'bearing 14' comprisingac'oncentrically bored cylindrical bearing member I 5 1 fixedly mounted in an inner enlarged portion lliof the bore l within which the'reactionmember extends and another "concentrically bored 7 cylindrical bearing member fl er-suitablefriction material extending and frictionally engaged forrotation in the berets the bearingmember I5 and with in thebor'e'of which the reaction memberextends and is secured; The inner or driving member adjacent portion ot'the reel spindle 9' extends through and'is supported in the bore of the reaction-member l 3"for rotation with'respect to the reaction member "by means of a' double roller bearing l8; arid'the outer or driving member remote portion of the reel spindle extends/out wardly' beyond the housing and the reaction member and is in the form of a conventional reel mount l9 adaptedfor the detachable mounting thereon of aiilm reel 2 0 shown in Figure l; indr ivin'g engagement therewith as isusualin motion pioture re'lmounts'. Y

The driving member Bis provided with a radial flange 2| formed-integrally therewith and the reaction member l3-is also provided with a radial flange 22 formed integrally" therewith, see Fig ures'2 and l; and theseflanges" are disposed with inthehousing in axially spaced relation andeach flange provides-onset two spaced opposing axial 3 1y facing surfaces of revolution within the housing and respectively designated at 23 and 24. The inner end of the reel spindle 9 is provided with a radial flange 25 fixed for rotation therewith and disposed within the housing and between the flanges 2| and 22 and their aforesaid surfaces of revolution 23 and 24. The flange 25 is provided with a series of apertures 26 therethrough and spaced angularly thereabout, and transmission rollers in the form of bearing balls 21 are respectively rotatably engaged in these apertures for rotation and for bodily rotation with the flange 25 and the reel spindle, the flange 25 serving as a carrier for the balls 21. The balls 21 are disposed between the surfaces of revolution 23 and 24 for rolling engagement therewith in differential relation with the driving and reaction members 8 and I3.

Pressure mean is provided within the housing and is operative on the driving and reaction members 8 and |3 longitudinally of the axis of the mechanism to effect pressure engagement between the balls 21 and the surfaces of revolution 23 and 24 and will now be described. See Figures 2, 3 and 4.

An antifriction axial thrust bearing 28 within the housing is operative between the housing part 6 and the reaction member flange 22 to oppose axial movement of this flange away from the reel spindle flange 25 and comprises an annular bearing member 29 engageable against the housing part 6, a rotatable annular carrier member 3| disposed between this bearing member and the reaction member flange 22 and provided with a series of apertures 32 therethrough and spaced angularly thereabout, and bearing balls 33 respectively rotatably engaged in these apertures and disposed between and oppositely engageable with the bearing member 29 and the reaction member flange 22.

The casing part is provided internally thereof with a series of blind bores 34 angularly spaced about and disposed in parallelism with the axis of the driving mechanism and facing in the direction of the driving member flange 2|, and a series of compression springs 35 within the housing are respectively engaged and seated in these bores and project toward the driving member flange. An antifriction axial thrust bearing 36 within the housing is operative between the springs 35 and the driving member flange 2| to oppose axial movement of this flange away from the reel spindle flange and comprises an annular bearing member 31 engageable against the springs 35, a rotatable annular carrier member 38 disposed between this bearing member and the driving member flange 2| and provided with a series of apertures 39 therethrough and spaced angularly thereabout, and bearing balls 46 respectively rotatably engaged in these apertures and disposed between and oppositely engageable with the bearing member 31 and the driving member flange 2|.

Thus, the bearings 28 and 36 are respectively operative on the driving and reaction members in opposing relation with each other, and the bearing 28 reacts on the housing part 6 and the springs are operative between the bearing 36 and the housing part 5 to efiect pressure and consequently rolling transmission engagement between the transmission balls 2'! and the surfaces of revolution 23 and 24 of the driving and reaction member flanges 2| and 22, this arrangement providing for assembly of the driving mechanism in 4 cooperation with the separable housing parts 5 and 6.

A headed and shouldered stud 4| is screwthreaded into the outer end of the driving member 8 in coaxial relation therewith, and a bored pulley 42 is rotatably mounted on the stud 4| by means of a roller bearing 43 for rotation with respect to the driving member on the axis of the driving mechanism. See Figures 2 and 3. An overrunning clutch 44 is disposed on the axis of the driving mechanism and serves to drive the driving member 8 from the pulley 42 in one direction only, and comprises a bored cam disk 45 secured on the driving member by the stud 4| and provided with a radial cam portion 45 at the periphery thereof, an internal clutch surface 4! on the pulley and surrounding the cam disk, and a ball 48 disposed between the cam portion and the clutch surface and adapted to be placed in clutching engagement with the clutch surface 41 by the cam portion 46 when the pulley is rotated in one direction relative to the driving member and to be released from the clutch surface when the relative rotation of the pulley is in the opposite direction.

The driving mechanism above described is adapted for taking up a film 49 in the form of a roll 5|, see Figure 1, on the reel 26 mounted on the reel spindle 9, increasing in diameter as the film is fed thereto from the constant feed mechanism of a motion picture projecting machine, not

shown, and the pulley 42 is driven from the projecting machine, through the medium of a belt 52 trained over the pulley to drive'the driving mem: ber 8 through the overrunning clutch 44.

As the pulley 42 is driven in the direction to drive the driving member 8 through the one way clutch 44, the transmission balls 21, being connected with the reel spindle 9 for bodily rotation therewith and having rolling transmission engagement with the surfaces of revolution 23 and 24 of the driving and reaction members 8 and I3 in diflerential relation therewith, tendto rotate the reel spindle and the reaction member in opposite directions. The friction bearing I4 is operative on the reaction member to retard rotation thereof and causes torque varying in correspondence with the amount of braking or retarding force exerted on the reaction member by the bearing M, to be exerted on the reel spindle and on the film roll 5| on the reel 20 to wind the film 49 thereon.

Observing that the reaction member l3 supports the reel spindle 9 and with it the reel 20 and film roll 5|, increase in weight of the film roll as the film roll increases in diameter, increases the braking or retarding action exerted by the bearing l4 on the reaction member, so that the torque exerted on the reel spindle and film roll increases as the diameter of the film roll increases and adequate torque is exerted on the film roll at large film roll diameters without exerting excessive torque on the film roll and resulting excessive tension on the film at small film roll diameters, thus increasing the range of film roll diameter which can be accommodated.

It will be observed that the driving mechanism provides a reduction drive from the drive member 8 to the reel spindle 9, so that the driving strain on the belt 52 is correspondingly reduced.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the driving mechanism'shown in Figure 5 is essentially the same as above described and functions in the same manner but is adapted for driving the feed and rewind reel of a motion picture projecting maaccuse chine for. rewinding film .onthis reel at high speed from the take up-reel of the machine such as the reel .20 mounted on the reelzspindle 9 i Figures 1 to 4, the film being free from the feed mechanism of the machine and passing directly from the take up reel to the feed. and rewind reel during the rewinding operation;

In. brief the driving mechanism of Figure. 5

comprises. a housing. 53 enclosing the driving spectively designated at 6| and'62, a transmis sion roller carrier 63 fixed for rotation on the inner end of the reel spindle 55 and carrying rotatable rollers in the form of bearing" balls 54 for bodily rotation with the reel spindle, which balls are disposed between the surfaces of revolution GI and 62 for rolling engagement therewith in differential relation with the driving and reaction members 54 and56, and pressure means operative on the driving and reaction members longitudinally of the axis of the mechanism to eifect pressure and consequently rolling trans mission engagement between the balls 64 and the surfaces of revolution 5| andv 62 and comprising antifriction axial thrust bearings 65 and 66 respectively operative on the driving and reaction members in opposing relation with each other and springs 61 operative in cooperation with these bearings to effect said pressure engagement A pulley 68 is secured on the outer end of the driving member 54 for driving the same. s

Referring to Figure 6, the mechanism of the projecting machine is carried on aframe' wand includes a forwardly and rearwardly extending drive shaft 10 rotatably mounted within the frame and driven from a motor, not shown, which drives the film feed mechanism of the machine and which also drives the take up reel spindle driving belt 52 of Figure -1. Anothershaft H is rotatably mounted within the frame and is disposed transversely of the shaft '10. Aspiral gear 12 is rotatably mounted in coaxial relation with the shaft 10 for rotation with respect thereto and meshes with another spiral gear'l3 which is secured on the shaft for driving this shaft from the gear 12, and the pulley 68 is driven for drivingthe reel spindle 55 from the shaft H and consequently from the gear 12 by'a pulley 14 secured with the gear 13 and a belt 15 trained over the pulleys 68 and 14. An overrunning clutch 15 is disposed 'on the axis of the shaft I0 and serves to drive the gear "from the shaft 10 in one direction only. This clutch comprises a cam disk 11 secured on the shaft lll'and provided with corresponding radial cam portions 18 angularly spaced about the periphery thereof, an internal clutch surface '19 on the gear 12 and surroundingthe cam disk, and balls 8| disposed between the cam portions and the clutch surface and adapted to be placed in clutching engagement with the clutch surface 19 by the-cam portions 13 when the shaft 10 is rotated in one direction relative to the gear 12 and to bereleased from the clutchsurface when the relative rotation of this shaft and gearis in the opposite direction.

- The driving mechanism of Figuresb andiifi .is adapted for rewindinga film at highspeed from one reel, say the take up reel 20 of Figure 1, onto another reel, not shown, mounted on the reel spindle 55;.Jinthe form of ,a :rcll increasing in diameter as the film-is wound thereomand, for this purpose the :frictionbearing 51 of the re-. action member 56 of this driving mechanism is relatively large to. develop th relatively. large amount of torque required for rewinding at high speed.p.='

. For the purposeof manually actuatingthe feed mechanism ofthe projecting machine, say for positioning the samein a desiredp sition of, its

cycle or testing theilacing of 'the film on the Ina-.

chine, see Figurefi, one endzof the shaft H ,is extendedoutwardly from the frame 69 and is provided with. a knob 82- bymeans of which the mechanism of themachine maybeconveniently actuated when it, is not being driven by'the motor. While the mechanism of. the machine may-be actuat d inbut onedirection by the knob 82,,because the overrunning clutch I6 is interposed between the shaft Hi and the knob, this arrangement is of advantage in that the knob rotates very slowly when the mechanism of the machine is being driven by the motor of the machine for the projection of motion pictures and so is not annoyin or dangerous during the projection of pictur s- Assuming that the reel spindles. 9 and 55. of Figures v1 and 5 respectively serve as the take up and feed and rewind spindles of a motion picture projecting-machine. and that the motor of the machine is reversible, is permanently connected with the belt 52 and shaft 10 to drive the reel spindles, and is connected with the film feeding mechanism of the machine by a releasable clutch, picture's-are projected with the driving motor operating in one direction, with the'feed'me chanism drive clutch engaged and with the film laced in the machine and drawn thereby from a'feed and rewind reel mounted'on the reel spindle 55' and fed to a take'up reel mounted on the reel spindle 9, the overrunnin clutches 44 and lfi being'so arranged that the clutch 44 drives the take up reel spindle 9'to take up the film on the takeup reel on this spindle and the feed and rewind'spindle 55 isfree from drive bythe'motor to' permit the film to be drawn from the feed and "rewind reel on the spindle 55fby the feed mechanism during operation of the motor in the direction for pro-. jecting pictures and that the clutch 'lfidrivesthe feed and rewind spindle 55 and the take up spindle 9 free from drive by the motor when the motor is operated in the opposite direction for rewinding theiilm from a reel on the take up spindle onto a reel on the feed and rewind spindle. The film is freefrom'the feed mechanism ofthe machine and passes directly-from the take up reel to the feed and rewind reel and the feed mechanism drive clutchv is disengaged during the rewinding operation.

WhileI have thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made without departing from the" spirit of myinvention; but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent the following:

I 1. In a reel drive mechanism, the-combination of a rotatable driving member and a rotatable reeling member for reeling a strip inthe'form of a roll increasing in diameter as the'stripis reeled, thereon, a rotatable reaction member supporting said reeling member for rotation with respect thereto, brake means downwardly on which said reaction member bearsto retard rotation of said reaction member with resistance increasing with increase of weight on said reeling member, and rotatabletra'nsmission means carried :with said'reeling member for bodily rotation therewith and having rolling transmission engagement with said driving and reaction members in diiferential relation therewith. 1

2. In a reel driving mechanism, the combination of a rotatable driving member and a rotatable reel spindle, a'rotatable concentrically bored reaction men'rber, saidspindle extending in and being supported in the bore of said reaction member for rotation with respect to said reaction member, a friction bearing supporting said reaction member for rotation and operative to retard rotation thereof-with resistance increasing with increase of weight on said spindle, and rotatable transmission means carried with said spindle for bodily rotation therewith and having rolling transmission engagement with said driving and reaction members in differential relation there with.

. 3. In a reel drive mechanism, the combination of a rotatable driving member and a rotatable reel spindle disposed along a common axis, a concentrically bored rotatable reaction member disposed'on said axis, the driving member adjacent portion of said spindle extending and being supported in thebore of said reaction member for rotation with respect to said reaction member and the driving member remote portion of said spindle extending beyond said reaction member and forming a reel mount portion, a friction bearin supporting said reaction member for rotation and operative to retard rotation thereof with resistance increasing with increase of weight on said spindle and comprising a, bored bearing member in which said reaction member is engaged for rotation, and rotatable transmission means inthe region of the adjacent portions of said;driving member and spindle and fixed with said spindle for bodily rotation therewith and having rolling transmission engagement with said driving and reaction members in difierential relation therewith.

4. In a reel drive mechanism, the combination of ahousing provided with alined bores through opposite walls thereof and comprising two parts detachably secured together transversely of said bores and respectively forming said walls, a rotatable driving member and'a rotatable reel spindle disposed along the axis of said bores and respectively extending in said bores and said driving member being mounted for rotation on the housing part in the bore of which it extends, a concentrically bored rotatable reaction member within said housing. and disposed on said axis, the driving member adjacent portion of said spindle extending through'and being supported in the bore of said reaction member for rotation with respect to said reaction member and the driving member remote portion of said spindle extending beyond said housing and reaction member and forming a reel mount portion, a friction bearing supporting said reaction member for rotation onthe other of said housing parts and operative to retard rotation of said reaction member with resistance increasing with increase ofweight on said spindle, and rotatable transmission means within said housing and in the region of the adjacent portions of said driving member and spindle and fixed with said spindle for bodily rotation therewith and having. rolling transmission engagement with said drivingand reaction members in differential'relation there- Wlth. LIQ. M

5. In a reeldrive mechanism, thezcombination of a rotatable driving, member and a rotatable reeling member arranged-on a commonxaxis a rotatable reaction member..dis'posed onsaidaxis and supporting said reelingim'ember fornrotation with respect thereto brake means downwardly on which saidv reaction member bears to retard rotation of saidreaction'member-with resistance increasing with increase of;weight on said reeling member, saiddriving; andreaction members being each provided: with one of two spacedopposing axially facing surfaces of revolution,.ro-v tatable roller means carried rwitni'said 3116611118, member for bodily rotation therewithand disposed between said surfaces. of revolution,. lfor rolling engagement; therewith in differentialisrelation with said-driving and, reaction members, and pressure means operative on saiddriving and reaction members longitudinally; ofsaid axis to effect pressure engagement between said rollor means and surfaces of revolution.

6. In a reel drive mechanism, the combination of a rotatable driving member and a, rotatable reel spindle, disposed on, a common axis, a 10.- tatable concentrically bored reaction, member disposed on said axis, said spindle extending ,in and being supported in the bore of saidjreaction member for rotation with respect to said reac-. tion member, a friction bearing supporting said reaction member for rotation and operative to retard rotation thereof Withresistance increasing with increase of weight on saidspindle, said driv ing and reaction members being each provided with one of two spaced opposing axially facing surfaces of revolution, a roller carrier disposed between said surfaces and secured with said spindle for rotation therewith, rotatable-rollers carried with said carrier in angula11y, SPaced relation about said axis for bodilyrotation-with said carrier and disposed between said surfaces of revolution for rolling engagement therewith in differential relation with said driving and reaction members, and pressure means operative on said driving and reaction members longitudinally of said axis to effect pressure engagement be tween said rollers and surfaces of revolution.

7. In a reel drive mechanism, the combination of-a rotatable driving member and a rotatable reel spindle disposed along a common axis, a rotatable concentrically bored reaction member disposed on said axis, the driving member-adjacent portion of'said spindle extending in and being supported in thebore of said reaction member for rotation with respect to saidreaction member and the driving member remote portion of said spindle extending beyond said reaction member and forming a reel mount portion, afriction bearing supportingsaidreaction member for rotation and operativeto retard rotation thereofwith resistance increasing with increaseof weight on said spindle and comprising a bored bearing member in which said reactionmember extends, said driving and reaction members being each provided with one oftwo spaced'opposing axially facingsurfacesof revolution, aroller carrier disposed between said surfaces and secured with said spindle for rotation therewith, rotatable rollers carried with said carrier in angularly spaced relation about said axis for "bodily rotation with said carrier and disposed between said surfaces of revolution for rolling engagement therewith in difierential relation with said driving and reaction members, and pressure means operative on said driving and reaction members longitudinally of said axis to effect pressure engagement between said rollers and surfaces of revolution and comprising antifriction axial thrust bearings respectively operative on said driving and reaction members in opposing relation with each other.

8. In a reel drive mechanism, the combination of a housing provided with alined bores through opposite walls thereof and comprising two parts detachably secured together transversely of said bores and respectively forming said Walls, a rotatable driving member and a rotatable reel spindle disposed along the axis of said bores and respectively extending in said bores and said driving member being mounted for rotation on the housing part in the bore of which it extends, a concentrically bored rotatable reaction member within said housing and disposed on said axis, the driving member adjacent portion of said spindle extending through and being supported in the bore of said reaction member for rotation with respect to said reaction member and the driving member remote portion of said spindle extending beyond said housing and reaction member and forming a reel mount portion, a friction bearing supporting said reaction member for rotation on the other of said housing parts and operative to retard rotation thereof with resistance increasing with increase of weight on said spindle, said driving and reaction members being each provided with one of two spaced opposing axially facing surfaces of revolution within said housing, a roller carrier within said housing and disposed between said surfaces and secured with said spindle for rotation therewith, rotatable rollers carried with said carrier in angularly spaced relation about said axis for bodily rotation with said carrier and disposed between said surfaces of revolution for rolling engagement therewith in difierential relation with said driving and reaction members, and pressure means within said housing and operative on said driving and reaction members longitudinally of said axis to effect pressure engagement between said rollers and surfaces of revolution and comprising antifriction axial thrust bearings respectively operative on said driving and reaction members in opposing relation with each other and of which thrust bearings one reacts on one of said housing parts and spring means operative between the other of said thrust bearings and the other of said housing parts to efiect said pressure engagement.

- LOUIS A. MoNABB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

